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Ireland looking to seal quarter-final berth

Ireland can secure their place in the Cricket World Cup quarter-finals with victory over defending champions India in Hamilton on Tuesday.

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Written ByHarry West

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Ireland face India in the Cricket World Cup on Tuesday, knowing
a surprise victory will see them secure qualification from Pool
B.

William Porterfield's side have already recorded wins over the
United Arab Emirates, West Indies and Zimbabwe, and one more
success - either against India or in their final pool game against
Pakistan – will take them beyond the group stage for the second
time.

A point would also be enough to see Ireland through but, with a
good forecast for Hamilton, the weather looks unlikely to be a
factor in deciding the outcome.

Ireland face a stern test against an India team which has cast
aside pre-tournament doubts over their form to win all four matches
so far.

The defending champions look likely to top the pool, but Ireland
have their sights firmly set on ending the 100 per cent record of
MS Dhoni's men.

"Like any other game we're going into it looking for a win, and
we're looking to make it four out of five tomorrow," Porterfield
said.

"Obviously, we've got to try to restrict them with the ball and
take wickets. It's just like any game of cricket and this format is
the best way of restricting teams is taking those wickets.

"So we've got to go out there with that mentality throughout the
50 overs of taking wickets.

"Whatever we do first of the first ten overs is going to be big,
if that's what it's with the bat or with the ball, we have to start
the game well and get into it.

"It's a nice position to be in. It's one we want to be in the
quarter-finals is a goal we set ourselves before we came here, so
we're in a nice position now.

"But it doesn't count for anything if we don't keep getting good
performances and the start of the game tomorrow."

India are expected to be unchanged, and seamer Mohit Sharma
believes he and the rest of the bowling attack are working well as
a unit.

"My role is very simple," he said. "I have to maintain that
pressure.

"That's what I said earlier is that I have to maintain that
pressure for [Ravichandran] Ashwin and [Ravindra] Jadeja.

"It's good for our team, like if we maintain that pressure we
are on top of the batsmen. That's good."